Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B. L. Wt. 699-300, Thomas Francis, Mass.

SERVICE
Noass.
Francis, Thomas
NUMBER
S 34885
{ P.L.W. 699-300 Capt. Issued Apr. 18, 1796 to Jeri Mason assignee No papers.
CONTENTS

(540)
Massachusetts Roll
Thomas Francis
Capt Porter's
Captain
4
Mass. Line - 1777 - War
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of Twenty Dollars per month, to commence the 3 rd of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 th of May 1818 and sent to Hon. Samuel Putnam, Salem, Mass.
Arrearages to 4 th Sept r 1818
5 months 2/30
$ 104 33
{ Revolutionary claims, } { Act 18th March, 1818 }
Hon. N. L. S. B. H. Rep.
Reinstated Salmon E. D. Co.

Notification sent July 26th 1921 to Hon. Secretary of War, Washington
Reinstated by Hon Secy of War, 16 th Febry 1921, & on that day, notification sent to Hon Mr. Pilsbry H. R.

Capt. Tho. Francis
Apr. 3. 1818
r

The Declaration of Thomas Francis, of Salem in the County of Essex, Esquire, ~
The said Thomas Francis on oath declares that he served as a Volunteer at the Battles of Lexington and Bunkers Hill - That in March November, A. D. 1776 he was appointed and commissioned as First Lieutenant in Capt. Billy Porter's company in the Regiment commanded by Col. Ebenezer Francis, the Declarant's brother, who was killed in action in the retreat of the American Army from Ticonderoga, - that the Declarant was appointed a Captain Lieutenant in the 11 th Massachusetts Regiment and has a Commission under the Seal of the United States of America and the signature of Samuel Huntington President of Congress dated 29 th Sept. 1779 - that by another Commission dated July, 13. 1780 the Declarant was appointed a Captain in the 11 th Regiment of Foot, one of the fifteen Battalions raised by the State of Massachusetts Bay to serve in the Continental Army - that by another Commission dated May, 18. 1781 the Declarant was appointed a Captain in the 10 th Massachusetts Regiment in the Army of the United States - that by another Commission under the Seal of the United States the Declarant was appointed on the 16 th Sept. 1782 as a Captain in the said 10 th Massachusetts Regiment - that the Declarant served the whole time from March 1777 to April 1783, and fought in the Battles of Bemis' Heights - Saratoga, and Monmouth, and at the end of the War was honorably discharged by Genl. Patterson.
That the Declarant is Seventy years of age in July next, is a farmer, and earns all his subsistence by manual labor, and from his reduced circumstances in life stands in need of assistance from his country for support: - and that he hereby relinquishes all his claim to any pension heretofore allowed him by the laws of the United States. He sends herewith his first and last Commissions -
April 3. 1818. ~
Thos. Francis

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Witness: On this third day of April A.D. 1818 the aforenamed Thomas Francis personally came before me Samuel Putnam, one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth aforesaid and in my presence subscribed and made solemn oath to the truth of the aforeswritten Declaration: and it appearing to my satisfaction that the said Captain Thomas Francis served more than nine months in the Revolutionary Army on the Continental Establishment against the common enemy, I do hereby certify and transmit the testimony in the case and the proceedings had thereon to the Secretary of the Depart- ment of War
In testimony whereof I have hereunto caused the Seal of said Court to be affixed and set my hand this third day of April A.D. 1818.
S. Putnam Just. S. J. Court of Mass t .

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss. I Ichabod Tucker, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth aforesaid in and for the County aforesaid to all whom these presents may concern hereby certify that the aforementioned Hon. Samuel Putnam is a judge of the Supreme Judicial Court aforesaid, that the seal hereto affixed is the seal of said Court, & the signature aforesaid is his proper hand.
Attest
Ichabod Tucker, Clerk
[Faint mirrored text from the reverse side of the page]

Capt. Tho s Francis 540 16 May 1898
Salem
Not into
age 72
dis avl? from labor
has $392
owns avl. as much
Sep 1898

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas of the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Salem, within and for the County of Essex, on the third Monday of June, A. D. 1820.
Present, Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Chief Justice.
Hon. WILLIAM WETMORE, and
Hon. STEPHEN MINOT, Associate Justices.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Thomas Francis resident in Salem - - - - - in said Circuit, who is named in Fension Certificate No. 540 - - - now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,
"WAR DEPARTMENT.....REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM."
"I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, Thomas Francis - - - - - late a Captain in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of twenty - - - dollars per month, to commence on the third day of April - - - - - one thousand eight hundred and eighteen ."
***** "Given at the War Office of the United States, this fourteenth day * L. S. * "of May - - - - - one thousand eight hundred and eighteen ." *****
J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War,"
appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit,
SCHEDULE,
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit,
An acre of land near the Great Pasture in Salem on Broad Street, with a house built of wood, 40 feet by 20, only two rooms and a bed room finished, three windows are boarded up, the glass having been broken in a hail storm three years ago, with a small barn built of the fragments of an old one thrown down by the wind four years ago. $350.00  A cow for which he paid out his last pension. 20.00  House furniture much worn by long use, two looking glasses $3 - 18 chairs $5 - - - - - 8.00  Three tables $3. two desks $12 - 2 pr. andirons - - 19.50  Pot, teakettle $1. two dishkettles 0.75. brook kettle 1.50 - - 3.25  Skillet 25. doz knives & forks 0.50 - - - - - 0.75  Lot of crockery for family use & pewter ware - - - 2.50  Two table & five tea spoons of silver - - - - - 2.50  Two shovels & two pair tongs - - - - - 2.00  Bible, Psalm book, & Testament - - - - - 1.00  $ 391.50

He is seventy two years old - a brickmaker, has been unable to labour for last eight years on account of rheumatism, which has afflicted him every year since he left the service - he has broke his knee twice - The assessors of Taxes have abated his taxes on account of his poverty and infirmities.
He owes nearly three hundred dollars to several persons.
His family are his wife aged 70 and an orphan grand-daughter Rebecca aged 13.
He served seven years and a half from 1776 in commission - at first in his brother Col. Francis' Regiment - after Col. Francis was killed in action, in Col. Tupper's Regiment, till his Company was transferred to Col. Brooks' Regiment in the Massachusetts Line.
Tho s Francis
Sworn to and declared before
W m Wetmore, Judge within named.

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. W m Wetmore a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
I, Thomas Francis do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. So help me GOD.
Tho s Francis
Essex, ss. C. C. C. P. June, Term, A. D. 1820.
Then the abovenamed Thomas Francis took and subscribed the aforesaid Oath before me
W m Wetmore Judge of said Court.
I, ICHABOD TUCKER, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is three hundred and ninetytwo dollars
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Salem, in said County of Essex, on this 17 th day of July A. D. 1820
Attr.
Ichabod Tucker, Clk

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., 11-10 , 192 2
834885
In reply to your request of _____, for the history of  John Francis , a soldier of the Revolutionary War, the following is taken from the _____ claim for pension.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1775 he served as a volunteer battles of Lexington & Bunker Hill   Nov 6, 1776 1 st Lieut Billy Porter Ebenezer Francis Mass   Sept 29, 1779 Captain-Lieutenant in the 11 th Regt of "   Mar 18, 1780 Captain on the 10 th Regt of "   and was discharged in Apr 1782  
Battles engaged in, _____, Battles of Lexington & Bunker Hill _____, Dennis Hgts Saratoga Mon. _____, Trenton
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Not stated.
Date of application for pension, Apr 3 1818 - al
Residence at date of application, Salem, Essex Co., Mass.
Age at date of application, 6 July - 1748  aged 70 yrs  age not stated
Remarks: In 1818 he referred to his wife as an orphan grandda.  Rebecca ---, aged 13 yrs - Date of death not  on record.  Soldier's brother Ebenezer Francis was killed  in the retreat from Ticonderoga.  Only 2 sent etc.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

34 885
1922, Nov. 11 hist. to Howard J. Banker EW
Rev. INVALID.
File No. 8/885
Thomas Francis
Capt Rev War
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index: Vol. 2 , Page 145
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Apk-1828
settled at
Treasury
Cons n with
Invalid file
#
34,885

No of orig Pay 260 REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
July 22. 1828.
Thomas Francis, of Salem, in the County of Essex, in the State of Massachusetts has applied to the Secretary of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled "An Act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the army of the Revolution," approved on the 15th of May, 1828. He states that he was as an officer on the Continental line, and served as such to the end of the war,
at which period he was a Captain in the tenth regiment of the Massachusetts line; and that he received commutation certificates for the five years full pay granted by the resolve of 22 March, 1783; and, further, that he has received as a pensioner since the 3d of March, 1826, four hundred and eighty dollars, paid to him by the agent in the State of Massachusetts.
The Third Auditor is requested to report how far these several statements are corroborated by the records in his office.
By order of the Secretary. A. Dikins.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
THIRD AUDITOR'S OFFICE,
26 th July 1828
It appears by the records in this office, that final settlement certificates have been issued for the commutation of five years full pay to Thomas Francis - Captain in the Massachusetts line, amounting to Twenty four Hundred dollars.
It further appears that Thomas Francis - is now on the pension list of the Massachusetts agency, and has been since the 3 rd March 1826 at the rate of Twenty Dollars per month.
Peter Hagner Audr.
Connect No 922

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
For the purpose of obtaining the benefits of an act, entitled "An Act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Army of the Revolution," approved on the 15th of May, 1828, I, Thomas Francis, of Salem in the county of Essex in the State of Massachusetts, do hereby declare that I was an Officer in the Continental line of the Army of the Revolution and served to the end of the War, at which period I was a Captain in the Tenth Regiment of the Massachusetts line.
And I also declare that I afterward received a certificate (commonly called a commutation certificate) for a sum equal to the amount of a five years' full pay; which sum was offered by the resolve of Congress of the 23d of March 1783 instead of the half pay for life to which I was entitled under the resolve of the 21st of October 1780.
And I do further declare, that I have received of the United States, as a pensioner, since the third day of March 1826, the sum of Four Hundred and Eighty Dollars paid to me by the agent for paying pensions in the State of Massachusetts
M c Faravis
C

Before me Benjamin Merrill a Justice of the Peace duly empowered to administer oaths in the County of Essex in the State of Massachusetts personally appeared this day Amos Sheldon and Benjamin Woodberry both of the said County who did severally make oath that Thomas Francis by whom the foregoing Declaration was subscribed is generally reputed and believed to have been an officer in the Army of the Revolution in manner as therein stated.
Witness my hand this twenty third day of June in the year 1828.
Benj. Merrill Just. Peace & Quorum.
I, John Prince Junior, Clerk of the Courts of the County of Essex in the State of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that Benjamin Merrill, before whom the foregoing affidavits were sworn, was, at the time, a Justice of the Peace duly empowered to administer oaths.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this twenty third day of June 1828.
John Prince, Clerk.

Capt. Thos. Francis
Sum fr Sup M c E
 " aged 73  " disabled & sick  " serv d the whole War & lost a brother in act n Col. Francis at Hubbardston in 1777  " has rec d alms for support. 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas of the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Salem, within and for the County of Essex, on the third Monday of June, A. D. 1820.
Present, Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Chief Justice.
Hon. WILLIAM WETMORE, and
Hon. STEPHEN MINOT, Associate Justices.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Thomas Francis resident in Salem in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 540 now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,
WAR DEPARTMENT.....REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, Thomas Francis late a Captain in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of twenty dollars per month, to commence on the third day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. Given at the War Office of the United States, this 14th day of May one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War.
appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit,
SCHEDULE,
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding
excepted, to wit,
Handwritten list of assets and values: an acre of land near the Great Pasture in Salem in Broad Street with a house built of wood 40 feet by 20 only two rooms and a bed room finished, three windows are boarded up, the glass having been broken in a hail storm three years ago with a small barn built of the fragments of an old one thrown down by the wind four years ago. $350.00. a bow for which he paid out his last pension - - - - - 20.00. House furniture much worn by long use & Looking Glasses - - - 3.00. 18 Chairs $5.00 - - - - - 5.00. 3 Tables $3. 2 Desks $12. 2 pr Andirons - - - - - 19.50. hot. tea kettle $1. 2 dish kettles 0.75. Brass kettle 1.50 - - - - - 3.25. Skillet 0.25. dog knives & forks 0.50 - - - - - .75. Lot of brockery for family use & hunter ware - - - - - 2.50. two table & five tea spoons of silver - - - - - 2.50. two shovels & two pr of tongs - - - - - 2.00. Bible, Psalm Book and Testament - - - - - 1.00. Total $391.50.
This is

He is seventy two years old - a Brick maker has been unable to labor for last eight years on account of Rheumatism which has afflicted him ever since he left the service - he has broke his knee twice - The Assessors of taxes have abated his taxes on account of his poverty and infirmities - he owes nearly three hundred dollars to several persons -
His family are his wife aged 70. and an orphan grand daughter Rebecca aged 18.
He served seven years and a half from 1876 in Commission at first in his brother Col Francis' Regt. - after Col. Francis was killed in action, in Col. Tiffers Regiment, till his company was transferred to Col. Brooks' Regiment in the Mass ts line
Thos Francis.
Sworn to & declared before Wm. Wetmore Judge within named

Salem, Mass ts Nov r 7. 1820 The undersigned, citizens of Salem, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Capt. Tho s Francis, late a U. S. Pensioner, who served during the whole Revolutionary War: - he is now very aged and infirm, and disabled from gaining a living by his labor on which he formerly depended for subsistence, he has no property but a little unproductive real estate, and he besides is in debt, as we believe, to the value of all he has in possession. If his Pension is not continued, he will be in distress.
John Andrew } Selectmen Sam l Endicott } James Silow } Salem Parley Putnam } John Hawkes }
Stephen Webb } Overseers L. W. Shepard } David Putnam } W m E. Harker } Elijah Chace } Mary Shinn } J. M. Dillwyn }
I certify that the above are many of them genuine signatures of respectable and credible Town officers of Salem.
Nath l D. Dike

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. Wm. Wetmore a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
I, Thomas Francis do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. So help me GOD.
Tho s Francis
Essex, ss. C. C. C. P. June, Term, A. D. 1820.
Then the abovenamed Thomas Francis took and subscribed the aforeswritten Oath before me
Wm Wetmore Judge of said Court.
I, ICHABOD TUCKER, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is three hundred & ninety two dollars
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Salem, in said County of Essex, on this 17 th day of July A. D. 1820
Attr. Ichabod Tucker, Clerk
A true copy of record Attr. Ichabod Tucker, Clerk

No 57
THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED
(Greeting)
To Thomas Francis Gage We Reposing special trust and confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO by these presents constitute and appoint you to be a Captain in the Pensylvania Key-Stone Battery Regiment in the Army of the United States, to take rank as such _____ from the Eighteenth day of March 1783. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of _____ by doing and performing all manner of things therein belonging. And we do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers, under your command, to be obedient to your orders, as Captain _____ And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to time, as you shall receive from this, or a future Congress of the United States, or Committee of Congress for that purpose appointed, a Committee of the States, or Commander in chief for the time being of the Army of the United States, or any other your superior Officer, according to the rules and discipline of War, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in force until revoked by this, or a future Congress, the Committee of Congress beforementioned, or a Committee of the States.
Witness His Excellency John Hanson Esq President of the Congress of the United States of America at Philadelphia the Sixteenth day of September A.D. 1782 and in the Seventh Year of our Independence.
John Hanson
By Order of Congress Robert E. Lee Secretary at War

IN
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C
N
E
S
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The DELEGATES of the UNITED STATES of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Counties of New-Castle, Kent and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, TO
Thomas Francis Gentleman Greeting
WE, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO, by these Presents, constitute and appoint you to be first Lieutenant of the Company whereof Major Porter is Captain in the Battalion whereof Colonel Francis Asg. is Colo in the Army of the United States, for the Defence of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile Invasion thereof. You are hereby charged and require all Officers and Soldiers under your Command, to be obedient to your Orders as their  First Lieutenant And you to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from Time to Time, as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the United States, or Committee of Congress, for that Purpose appointed, or Commander in Chief for the Time being of the Army of the United States, or any other your superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in Force until revoked by this or a future Congress. Dated at Boston the sixteenth day of November A.D. 1776
By Order of the Congress,
John Hancock
PRESIDENT.
ATTEST. Ebenezer Dyer

Pr SP
Carnegie Institution of Washington DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS EUGENICS RECORD OFFICE FOUNDED BY MRS. E. H. HARRIMAN
CABLE ADDRESS: "SEERO COLDSPRINGHARBOR"
COLD SPRING HARBOR, LONG ISLAND, N. Y.
Oct. 9, 1922
Hon. Commissioner of Pensions, Bureau Of Pensions Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:-
Can you please furnish me with the information contained in the Pension Records concerning the following three brothers who were also brothers of Col. Ebenezer Francis of the Revolutionary Army?
Thomas, Aaron, and John Francis.
All three were officers in the 11th Mass. Regt. under Col. Ebenezer Francis and later under Col. Benj. Tupper. They served in other commands, however, and all three received pensions.
Very Sincerely yours
Howard J. Banker.
Only one contact